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Christie's National Intentions Clearer in State of the State

Gov. Christie pledged his commitment to New Jersey during his annual State of the State speech Tuesday, but to many observers, he made clear he had an eye on the national stage.

By Maddie Hanna

Gov. Christie pledged his commitment to New Jersey during his annual State of the State speech Tuesday, but to many observers, he made clear he had an eye on the national stage.

MORE: Text, highlights and video of every governor's annual address.

Christie, who has been considering running for president in 2016, called for "a New Jersey renewal and an American renewal," describing a "palpable" anxiety he had witnessed while traveling the country last year as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

Without attacking President Obama by name, Christie said the nation's leadership had been "called into question because of a pattern of indecision and inconsistency." And he criticized "leaders in Washington," who "would rather stoke division for their own political gain."

As he spoke of national problems, Christie also touted his leadership of New Jersey, focusing much of his speech on the last five years -- and too little of it, critics said, on his plans for the year ahead.

The governor advocated for passage of a school-voucher bill, promised more measures to combat drug addiction, and urged the Democratic-controlled Legislature to cut taxes.

Absent from Christie's speech, meanwhile, were mentions of some of the state's largest challenges. The governor did not discuss the casino closures in Atlantic City, the state's near-depleted fund for road and bridge projects, or any specific proposal with regard to pension and health benefits following his decision last year to fill a revenue shortfall by reducing mandated state payments into the pension system by $2.4 billion.

"He did not project any vision for the future," Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester) told reporters at a news conference following Christie's speech.

"He's running for president. That's what it sounds like to me," Sweeney said. "And that's fine, but he's still the governor of the state of New Jersey. Our issues have to be addressed."

(c)2015 The Philadelphia Inquirer

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